TEMPO.CO, Flores - Almost every morning, Labuanbajo Fish Auction Place, Manggarai, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara flocked with people trading fish. Some traders selling cakes that look like dorayaki. The cake is known as Kompiang, a typical culinary in Manggarai.
"It’s Kompiang," said Jo, a Batak descendant who lived for decades in Manggarai, Flores when met in the market located in Kampung Ujung, Labuanbajo some time ago.
Kompiang, Jo said, is a must-have breakfast menu for Manggarai people. Thus, the brown-colored cake was easily found everywhere in this western district of Flores.
Not only in the market, many coffee shops provide Kompiang. One of the shops is Mane coffee shop located at Jalan Yos Sudarso, Labuanbajo.
The owner Wenti Romas is a native of Ruteng, Manggarai, who serves Kompiang at his cafe which opens at 08:00 am. "Kompiang is suitable while drinking coffee," he said at different times, January 2018 ago.
Kompiang tastes quite plain and slightly savory which is best with a cup of coffee. Thus, Kompiang referred to as a special friend to coffee.
For breakfast menu, this cake is friendly to the stomach. It is able to neutralize the bitter and sour taste of coffee. As a light food, the main ingredients of Kompiang is made from wheat which makes it easily digested even to eat early in the morning.
Kompiang has solid texture, yet it is chewy. The shape is flat and round like Doraemon favorite cake, dorayaki.
On the surface, the cake is sprinkled with sesame seeds which known as Longa by local people. Longa plays an important role to make the cake taste savory.
Manggarai people used to fry Kompiang even it is already baked. They considered Kompiang to be more delicious if warmed by frying.
Kompiang generally sold by piece at around Rp1,000. Besides markets and cafes, there is a specialty store that sells Kompiang, Theresa's cake shop located at Jalan Wae Mata, Labuanbajo, and Tarsan stores in Ruteng, Manggarai.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
